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5 Myths About Sustainable Fashion Debunked

One of the biggest misconceptions about living a greener life is that you need a lot of time and money—two luxuries not a lot of people have. Case in point: the clothes we wear. Like “fast food,” “fast fashion” provides a fix that’s at once cheap and quick. But like, say, the pink-slime that tries to pass itself off as a quarter-pounder, any initial thrill soon wears off. As deeply unsatisfying as disposable clothing is in the long run, however, a large swath of the population still believes it cannot afford the time, effort, and budget to shop more ethically. The good news is this is simply untrue. Here are five myths about sustainable fashion we’re going to bust.

“Sustainable” is an ideology, not an aesthetic. Bolstered by the increasing variety of sustainably produce textiles and fibers, ethical brands today can take a design-first approach to their wares—just like their conventional cousins.

If you need more convincing, just look at the number of planet-friendly suits and gowns that are appearing all over the Hollywood red carpet. Granola, they are not.

2. SUSTAINABLE FASHION IS EXPENSIVE

This might have been true years ago, when eco-fashion was just a glint in someone’s eye, but the explosion in the number of responsible brands, plus the adoption of direct-to-consumer or online-only business models, has also translated into more-competitive prices.

Sustainable fashion may never reach the “clothing by the pound” prices that fast-fashion retailers push, but that’s because brands like Forever 21 choose to ignore issues such as “living wages,” worker safety, and environmental responsibility in favor of rock-bottom prices aimed at stimulating consumption, not to mention deepening their pockets.

Consider also what you’re paying for in terms of the garment’s lifespan, i.e., its “cost per wear.” A high-quality $50 blouse is a much better investment than five poorly made $10 blouses that disintegrate after a single wash.

Fast fashion, in all its ultra-trendy and “planned obsolescent” glory, cannot even begin to compare when it comes to quality.

4. SUSTAINABLE FASHION IS HARD TO FIND

A quick search online quickly disproves this myth. If Google isn’t curatorial enough, there’s also this humble website, which specializes in seeking out the greatest and latest in the ethical-fashion scene.

Stay tuned as we start rolling out buying guides. (Here’s one on vegan shoes to whet your appetite.) You can also ping us on Twitter at @ecouterre if you have a specific request.

5. SUSTAINABLE FASHION MEANS GIVING UP ON DESIGNER LOOKS

Remember what we said about the luxury industry’s warming up to sustainability? From Chopard to Stella McCartney to Valentino, ethics has evolved from buzzword to way of life.

In 2013, PPR Group, the multinational conglomerate that owns luxury stalwarts such as Alexander McQueen and Gucci, changed its name to Kering to signify the company’s new “caring” approach to creating fashion.